The pitch used for the Boxing Day Test between Australia and England in Melbourne has been rated as “poor” by the International Cricket Council. Only 24 wickets fell over the five days of the drawn fourth Ashes Test.

Good morning. South Korea is waiting to hear whether North Korea will agree to high-level talks next week, which Seoul proposed after an unexpected New Year’s outreach from the North’s leader, Kim Jong-un. It would be their first official dialogue in two years.

A vocal supporter of the royal commission into child sexual abuse, Sheedy implored survivors to tell their story and to keep fighting for justice For the past five years Leonie Sheedy travelled around Australia urging survivors of childhood sexual abuse in orphanages and foster care

Sensational media reports about violent incidents have raised social and political tension, and put Victorian police in the spotlight. But the truth is inevitably more complicated Victoria is having a debate about gangs.